Refrigerator doors and method of manufacturing

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator in which two or more accommodating spaces are provided and doors are provided at the accommodating spaces, respectively. Handles are formed in the doors so that the handles are inconspicuous from an external appearance of the refrigerator, thereby newly designing the external appearance of the refrigerator. In addition, even though two doors are disposed to be adjacent to each other, accessibility to the handle may be ensured, thereby easily opening and closing the doors of the refrigerator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit and priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0157887, filed on Nov. 13, 2014, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The Embodiments according to the present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door, and more particularly, to a refrigerator in which two or more accommodating spaces are provided and doors are provided at the accommodating spaces, respectively, and a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door.

BACKGROUND

In general, two or more accommodating spaces may be provided in a refrigerator. Further, doors may be provided at the accommodating spaces, respectively. Accordingly, the two or more doors may be attached to the refrigerator so as to be adjacent to each other.

In addition, handles may be needed to easily open and close the doors.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator performs inherent functions of the refrigerator, and an external appearance of the refrigerator may be considered as one element for design. That is, an external appearance of the refrigerator may be considered important, and the handle may greatly affect the external appearance of the refrigerator.

Accordingly, it is necessary to newly develop the handle of the refrigerator in consideration of the external appearance of the refrigerator.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a new type of refrigerator in which a handle is formed in a door of the refrigerator such that the handle is inconspicuous when viewing an external appearance of the refrigerator, and a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door.

In addition, the present disclosure has been made m an effort to provide a refrigerator in which handles are formed at sides which face each other when two doors are disposed to he adjacent to each other, and accessibility to the handles may he ensured, and a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door.

In addition, the present disclosure has been made in air effort to provide a refrigerator in which a thermal insulation effect, may be excellently maintained even though a thickness of a door of the refrigerator is decreased due to a shape of a handle, and a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door.

Technical problems to be achieved in the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned technical problem, and any other not-mentioned technical problem will be obviously understood from the description below by those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator including: a first storage chamber; a second storage chamber; a partition portion which defines the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; a first door which is used to open and close the first storage chamber; a second door which is used to open and close the second storage chamber; a stepped portion which is formed at a side of the first door which laces a side of the second door; and a first handle which is formed to be recessed in the stepped portion.

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first door may have a first venting hole which is formed at the side facing the second door so that the interior of the first door communicates with the outside of the first door,

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second door may have a second handle that is formed to be recessed at the side facing the first door.

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second handle may be positioned within a width of the stepped portion when viewed from the front side.

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second door may have a second venting hole which is formed at the side facing the first door so that the interior of the second door communicates with the outside of the second door.

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a top portion of the first handle may be disposed at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the partition portion.

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a top portion of the stepped portion may be disposed at the same height as or lower than the upper surface of the partition portion.

In addition, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a bottom portion of the second handle may be disposed at the same height as or higher than a bottom surface of the partition portion.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door, including: a first step of forming a stepped portion so that the stepped portion is lower than one surface of a member having a box shape; a second step of forming a first handle in the stepped portion so that the first handle has a recessed shape; a third step of forming a first, venting hole and a first injection hole in the member; a fourth step of assembling a first interior member inside the member; a fifth step of injecting a liquid phase first thermal insulating material through the injection hole; and a sixth step of hardening the liquid phase first thermal insulating material.

In addition, according to the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, air existing in the member may be discharged through the first venting hole when die first thermal insulating material is injected.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door, including: a first step of forming a second handle m a member having a box shape so that the second handle has a recessed shape; a second step of forming a second venting hole and a second injection hole in the member; a third step of assembling a second interior member inside the member; a fourth step of injecting a liquid phase thermal insulating material through the injection hole; and a fifth step of hardening the liquid phase thermal insulating material.

In addition, according to the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, air existing in the member may be discharged through the second venting bole when the second thermal insulating material is injected.

Other detailed matters of the exemplary embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

According to the refrigerator and the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the handle is formed in the door so that the handle is inconspicuous from the external appearance of the refrigerator, thereby newly designing the external appearance of the refrigerator.

In addition, according to the refrigerator and the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, even though two doors are disposed to be adjacent to each other, accessibility to the handle may be ensured, thereby easily opening and closing the doors of the refrigerator.

In addition, according to the refrigerator and the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, even though the handle is concavely formed such that a thickness of the thermal insulating material in the vicinity of the handle is decreased, the handle may he disposed at a position of the partition portion of the refrigerator, thereby excellently maintaining a thermal insulation effect.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting, in addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane that runs through a handle of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a process of manufacturing a first door in a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a process of manufacturing a second door in a method of manufacturing the refrigerator door according the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawing, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to an exemplary embodiment described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment, which will be described below, is illustratively described to help understand the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may be modified to be variously carried out differently from the exemplary embodiment described herein. However, in the description of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions and specific drawings for publicly known related functions and constituent elements may be omitted when it is determined that the detailed descriptions and the specific drawings may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure. In addition, to help understand the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings are not illustrated based on actual scales, but parts of the constituent elements may be exaggerated in terms of sizes.

Meanwhile, the terms used in the description are defined considering the functions of the present disclosure and may vary depending on the intention or usual practice of a manufacturer. Therefore, the definitions should be made based on the entire contents of the present specification.

Like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The attached FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane that runs through a handle of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to die refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, two or more doors may be attached to a cabinet 10.

A first storage chamber 12 and a second storage chamber 14 may be formed in the cabinet 10, and a partition portion 16 is formed between the first storage chamber 12 and the second storage chamber 14.

The first storage chamber 12 may be a freezing chamber, and the second storage chamber 14 may be a refrigerating chamber. Accordingly, there may be a great difference between a temperature in the first storage chamber 12 and a temperature in the second storage chamber 14. Therefore, the partition portion 16 inhibits cold energy from flowing between the first storage chamber 12 and the second storage chamber 14.

A first door 20 is installed on the cabinet 10 so as to open and close the first storage chamber 12. Likewise, a second door 30 is installed on the cabinet 10 so as to open and close the second storage chamber 14.

The first door 20 has a stepped portion 22 which is concavely formed at a side that faces the second door 30, and a first handle 24 is formed to be recessed in the stepped portion 22.

The stepped portion 22 provides a space into which a user's hand may be inserted between the first door 20 and the second door 30.

The first handle 24 provides a space into which the user's finger may be inserted. The first handle 24 is provided to allow the user to insert his/her finger into the space of the first handle 24 and then pull the first door 20 in order to open the first door 20.

That is, when the user opens the first door 20, the user inserts his/her finger into the space of the first handle 24 through the space, which is formed by the stepped portion 22, and then pulls the first door 20.

Therefore, according to the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first handle 24 for opening the first door 20 is not readily viewed from the outside of the refrigerator, and as a result, an external appearance of the refrigerator may be newly designed in a more creative manner.

Meanwhile, the first door 20 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a first venting hole 26 which is formed at the side facing the second door 30 so that the interior of the first door 20 communicates with the exterior of the first door 20.

A liquid phase thermal insulating material is injected into a member 110 when the first door 20 is manufactured, and in this case, the first venting hole 26 allows air existing in the member 110 to be easily discharged to the outside, thereby allowing the thermal insulating material to be smoothly injected, and allowing the thermal insulating material to smoothly flow.

On the other hand, the second door 30 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a second handle 32 which is formed to be recessed at a side facing the first door 20.

The second handle 32 is used to open the second door 30. Further, the second handle 32 is formed at the side facing the first door 20, such that the second handle 32 may not be readily viewed from the outside of the refrigerator. That is, when the user opens the second door 30, the user may access the second handle 32 through the space formed by the stepped portion 22.

Therefore, the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure ensures accessibility to the first and second handles 24 and 32, such that the user may conveniently open the first and second doors 20 and 30.

On the other hand, the second handle 32 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be positioned within a width of the stepped portion 22 when viewed from the front side of the refrigerator. Accordingly, when the user intends to open the second door 30, the user may easily access the second handle 32.

On the other hand, the second door 30 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a second venting hole 36 which is formed at the side facing the first door 10 so that the interior of the second door 30 communicates with the outside of the second door 30.

A liquid phase thermal insulating material is injected into a member 120 when the second door 20 is manufactured, and in this case, the second venting hole 36 allows air existing in the member 120 to be easily discharged to the outside, thereby allowing the thermal insulating material to be smoothly injected, and allowing the thermal insulating material to smoothly flow.

On the other hand, a top portion of the first handle 24 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the partition portion 16.

While a thickness of a first thermal insulating material 52 may be somewhat decreased by the first handle 24, a portion of the first door 20 which is positioned in front of the first storage chamber 12 may be formed to be thick as illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby excellently maintaining a thermal insulation effect. That is, it is possible to maximally inhibit heat exchange between cold air formed in the first storage chamber 12 and air outside the refrigerator.

On the other hand, a top portion of the stepped portion 22 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed at the same height as or lower than the upper surface of the partition portion 16.

While the thickness of the first thermal insulating material 52 may be somewhat decreased by the stepped portion 22, the portion of the first door 20 which is positioned in front of the first storage chamber 12 may be formed to be thick as illustrated in FIG, 2, thereby excellently maintaining a thermal insulation effect. That is, it is possible to maximally inhibit heat exchange between cold air formed in the first storage chamber 12 and air outside the refrigerator.

On the other hand, a bottom portion of the second handle 32 of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed at the same height as or higher than a bottom surface of the partition portion 16.

While a thickness of a second thermal insulating material 34 may be somewhat decreased by the second handle 32, a portion of the second door 20 which is positioned in front of the second storage chamber 14 may be formed to be thick as illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby excellently maintaining a thermal insulation effect. That is, it is possible to maximally inhibit heat exchange between cold air formed in the second storage chamber 14 and air outside the refrigerator.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The attached FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a process of manufacturing the first door of the refrigerator according the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a process of manufacturing the second door of the refrigerator according the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, the method of manufacturing the first door 20 will be described in a stepwise manner with reference to FIG. 3.

First Step: In the first step, a member initially having a plate shape is formed into a box shape. Thereafter, the stepped portion 22 is formed to be lower than one surface of the member 110 having the box shape. Here, the box shape means a shape that corresponds to an external appearance of the first door 20, but does not include a shape that is formed in the next step.

That is, in the first step, the member 110 having the box shape may be formed by being pressed in a state in which the member 110 is disposed between a lower mold and an upper mold.

Second Step: In the second step, the first handle 24 is formed as a recessed shape in the stepped portion 22. The first handle 24 may be formed by a slide mold, and the slide mold is moved in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the upper mold is moved.

The slide mold is operated immediately after the upper mold and the lower mold come into direct contact with each other. Because the mechanical configuration, of the slide mold is a known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Third Step: In the third step, the first venting hole 26 and a first injection bole 28 are formed in the member 110 having the box shape. The first venting hole 26 and the first injection hole 28 may be formed by drilling or punching.

Fourth Step: In the fourth step, a first interior member 42 is assembled inside the member 110 having the box shape. The first interior member 42 is assembled to the member 110 having the box shape of the first door 20, thereby forming a space in the first door 20.

Fifth Step: In the fifth step, the liquid phase first thermal insulating material 52 is injected through the injection hole 28 into the space in the first door 20 formed by the assembled member 110 having the box shape and first interior member 42. The first thermal insulating material 52 is foamed to form air layers, and the air layers increase the thermal insulation effect.

Sixth Step: In the sixth step, the liquid, phase first thermal insulating material 52 is hardened. The first thermal insulating material 52, which has been foamed, is hardened, such that the first thermal insulating material 52 does not flow.

As described above, the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may manufacture the first door 20 of the refrigerator, hi particular, the stepped portion 22 is formed first, and then die first, handle 24 is formed in the stepped portion 22, such that the first handle 24 may be formed to he inconspicuous from the external appearance of the refrigerator.

In addition, according to the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, air existing in the space in the first door 20 formed by the assembled member 110 having the box shape and first interior member 42 may be discharged through the first venting hole 26 when the first thermal insulating material 52 is injected into the space. Accordingly, when the first thermal insulating material 52 is injected into the space between the member 110 having the box shape and the first interior member 42, air is discharged through the first venting hole 26. That is, the first thermal insulating material 52 may be quietly injected.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the second door 30 will be described in a stepwise manner with reference to FIG. 4.

First Step: In the first step, the member 120 initially having a plate shape is formed into a box shape. Thereafter, the second handle 32 is formed as a recessed shape in the member 120 having the box shape. Here, the box shape means a shape that corresponds to an external appearance of the second door 30, but does not include a shape that is formed in the next step.

That is, in the first step, the member 120 having the box shape may he formed by being pressed in a state in which the member 120 is disposed between a lower mold and an upper mold.

Second Step: In the second step, the second venting hole 36 and a second injection bole 38 are formed in the member 120 having the box shape formed in the first step. The second venting hole 36 and the second injection hole 38 may be formed by drilling or punching.

Third Step: In the third step, a second interior member 44 is assembled inside the member 120 having the box shape formed in the second step. The second interior member 44 is assembled to the member 120 having the box shape of the second door 30, thereby forming a space in the second door 30.

Fourth Step: In the fourth step, the liquid phase thermal insulating material 54 is injected through the injection hole 38 into the space in the second door 30 formed by the assembled member 120 having the box shape and second interior member 44. The second thermal insulating material 54 is foamed to form air layers, and the air layers increase the thermal insulation effect.

Fifth Step: In the fifth step, the liquid phase thermal insulating material 54 is hardened. The second thermal insulating material 54, which has been foamed, is hardened, such that the second thermal insulating material 54 does not flow.

As described above, the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may manufacture the second door 30 of the refrigerator. In particular, even though a separate access space for allowing the user to access the second handle 32 is not formed in the second door 30, the user may access the second handle 32 using the stepped portion 22 provided in the first door 20. In addition, the second handle 32 is formed in a recessed shape at the side lacing the first door 20, such that the second handle 32 may be formed to be inconspicuous from the external appearance of the refrigerator.

In addition, according to file method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, air existing in the space in the second door 20 formed by the assembled member 120 having the box shape and the second interior member 44 may be discharged through the second venting hole 36 when the second thermal insulating material 54 is injected. Accordingly, when the second thermal insulating material 54 is injected into the space between the member 120 having the box shape and the second interior member 44, air is discharged through the second venting hole 36. That is, the second thermal insulating material 54 may be quickly injected.

The refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be used to keep stored objects cold, and the method of manufacturing a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may he used to manufacture a refrigerator door.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a first storage chamber; a second storage chamber; a partition portion which defines the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; a first door which is used to open and close the first storage chamber; a second door which is used to open and close the second storage chamber; a stepped portion which is formed at a side of the first door which faces a side of the second door; and a first handle which is formed to be recessed in the stepped portion.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first door has a first venting hole which is formed at the side lacing the second door so that the interior of the first door communicates with the outside of the first door.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door has a second handle that is formed to be recessed at the side lacing the first door.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the second handle is positioned within a width of the stepped portion when viewed from the front side.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door has a second venting hole which is formed at the side facing the first door so that the interior of the second door communicates with the outside of the second door.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a top portion of the first handle is disposed at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the partition portion.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a top portion of the stepped portion is disposed at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the partition portion.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the second handle is disposed at the same height as or higher than a bottom surface of the partition portion.
 9. A method of manufacturing a refrigerator door, comprising: a first step of forming a stepped portion in one surface of a member having a box shape, so that the stepped portion is lower than the one surface of the member having a box shape; a second step of forming a handle in the stepped portion so that the handle has a recessed shape; a third step of forming a first venting hole and a first injection hole in the member having the box shape; a fourth step of assembling an interior member inside the member having the box shape; a fifth step of injecting a liquid phase first thermal insulating material through the injection hole into a space formed by the assembled member having the box shape and the interior member; and a sixth step of hardening the liquid phase first thermal insulating material.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein air existing in the space formed by the assembled member having the box shape and the interior member is discharged through the first venting hole when, the first thermal insulating material is injected.
 11. A method of manufacturing a refrigerator door, comprising: a first step of forming a handle in a member having a box shape so that the handle has a recessed shape; a second step of forming a second venting hole and a second injection hole in the member having the box shape; a third step of assembling interior member inside the member having the box shape; a fourth step of injecting a liquid phase thermal insulating material through the injection hole into a space formed by the assembled member having the box shape and the interior member; and a fifth step of hardening the liquid phase thermal insulating material.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein air existing in the space formed by the assembled member having the box shape and the interior member is discharged through the second venting hole when the second thermal insulating material is injected. 